Taxi drivers split over Doncaster Council proposals make CCTV systems mandatory in their cars
The cost of installing CCTV systems is the top concern for many drivers in Doncaster.
Taxi drivers in Doncaster are split over proposals to make CCTV systems mandatory in their vehicles to receive a licence from the local authority.
According to a recent consultation, 40 per cent of local hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers “disagree” or “strongly disagree” that CCTV systems should be required in taxis licensed by the City of Doncaster Council.
This is slightly more than the 32 per cent of drivers who agreed or strongly agreed.
It comes as part of a flurry of proposed changes to Doncaster Council’s taxi licensing policy, many of which will be determined by the licensing committee on June 25, 2026.
The CCTV proposals will not be decided at the meeting, with further focus to be given to the idea at a later date.
Drivers, referred to as “the trade” in the consultation responses, expressed concerns over costs to install CCTV if the policy changed.
A summary of the trade’s thoughts on the proposal stated: “Many drivers highlighted that the proposed systems, often described as costing £500 – £1,000, represent a substantial financial burden, especially against the backdrop of rising operating costs, cost-of-living pressures, and depressed earnings resulting from increased competition from out-of-area drivers.”
Despite the mixed views of the trade, responses to the 12-week consultation from members of the public were largely supportive of the measure.
Around 85 per cent of public responses agreed or strongly agreed that CCTV should be mandatory in all hackney carriages and private hire cars.
It comes as the consultation found many respondents, both drivers and passengers, had had negative experiences in vehicles licensed by Doncaster Council.
173 of the 291 trade responses reported having had passengers make off without paying the fare, and 125 said they’d been on the receiving end of “abusive or inappropriate words or actions” from passengers.
Similarly, 81 of the 240 public responses reported having a driver request additional payments, and 61 said they’d been subject to “abusive or inappropriate words or actions” by drivers.
The vast majority of trade and public responses agreed or strongly agreed that CCTV systems would assist in preventing, deterring or identifying perpetrators of reported issues.